Conveying- and drying-apparatus for ceramic members

ABSTRACT

A conveying- and drying-apparatus for ceramic starting members, being transferred after pressing in a drying oven, comprises a drying oven, and a plurality of units disposed behind each other and about laterally set-off. Each of the units includes at least two parallel cable-paths endlessly guided over guide pulleys. The cable-paths serve as a conveying-device from a press to a drying oven and to a pile station. A plurality of blowers is disposed in the drying oven for blowing in different directions. The blowers comprise nozzle blowers and are disposed alternately at least at both sides of the paths at a distance in moving direction, and the distance corresponds with at least the double distance of the successive starting members.

United States Patent [191 Leisenberg CONVEYING- AND DRYING-APPARATUS FORCERAMIC MEMBERS [76] Inventor: Manfred Leisenberg, Alterwall 3,

7 o stanz i d see Germa [22] Filed: Feb. 25, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:229,292

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 25, 1971 Germany P 21 09071.1 Apr. 27, 1971 Germany P 21 20 540.3

[52] US. Cl 34/105, 34/218, 34/230, 34/236 [51] Int. Cl F26b 25/00 [58]Field of Search 34/21, 33, 104, 105, 34/215-218, 223, 225, 229, 230, 236

[56] References Cited 1 UN [TED STATES PATENTS 2,612,706 10/1952 Simpsonet a1. 34/105 2,313,040 3/1943 Alling et a1. 34/105 Dec. 11, 19733,603,002 9/1971 Spierer 34/243 R Primary Examiner-Kenneth W. SpragueAssistant Examiner.lames C. Yeung Att0rneyErnest G. Montague [5 7]ABSTRACT A conveyingand drying-apparatus for ceramic starting members,being transferred after pressing in a drying oven, comprises a dryingoven, and a plurality of units disposed behind each other andaboutlaterally set-off. Each of the units includes at least two parallelcable-paths endlessly guided over guide pulleys. The cable-paths serveas a conveying-device from a press to a drying oven and to a pilestation. A plurality of blowers is disposed in the drying oven forblowing in different directions. The blowers comprise nozzle blowers andare disposed alternately at least at both sides of the paths at adistance in moving direction, and the distance corresponds with at leastthe double distance of the successive starting members.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED DER I1 975 SHEET 3 OF 4 MEN-Q Q405.200

PATENTEUnEc 11 I915 3.771407 SHEET [1F 4 FIG.7 12

CONVEYING- AND DRYING-APPARATUS FOR CERAMIC MEMBERS The presentinvention relates to a conveyingand dryingdevice for ceramic members orforms which are transferred after extrusion into a drying oven, in whichare provided as conveying-device from the press to the drying oven andto the pile location, a plurality of units slightly laterally set offand disposed one behind the other, each of the units consisting of twoor more parallel cable paths guided over endlessly guided rollers, on

. which cable paths the members arriving at the press are conveyedcontinuously up to the pile location and are blown on in the drying ovenfrom a plurality of blowers from different directions.

Until now the members arriving from the press are most automaticallybrought at different levels onto adjacently disposed drying-lattices,which then combined to groups, are brought by means of a slidingplatform to the drying device in form of a chamberor tunneloven. Even incase of use of large groups for economization of the transportationlabor, a comparatively large and corresponding expensive machine andpersonal expenditure remains, since the members or forms had to belifted again after drying from the drying lattices, to be returned tothe press and transferred to particular storage frames. Also in formscontinuously moved on conveyors lattices are used also for the reason,that in order to bring over the dry air at least to a small extent, alsofrom below towards the members.

The mounting of dry lattices can cause, in particular in some slightlytoo humid press members, easily waste, since the drying lattices pressacross the forms, whereby during shrinking so-called lattice tears canbe created in the form along the lattice edges by the hindrance of themovement. A great number of working materials exist, which have a dryshrinking of 5 percent and more. The higher, however, the dry shrinking,the larger is also the proportion of waste by tear formation, since theform pressed into the dry plates cannot move freely any more duringshrinking and 'can contrast correspondingly with the measure forshrinking. If it is pressed too hard, not only a larger driving forcewith greater wear of the machines is required, rather thecharacteristics are visibly worsened. r

In order to avoid the lattice tears and in addition to dry each of thestarting forms under the same conditions and uniformly from all sides,it has been proposed as a conveying device from the press through thedrying oven to the bearing location a plurality of units disposed onebehind the other and set off relative to each other slightly laterallyof two or a plurality of parallel cable paths endlessly guided aboutguiding pulleys. The starting member remains then on the same supportingposition only for a short time. Since it displaces itself during eachtransfer to the next following unit laterally. For this reason it has notime to press itself remarkably on the supporting station. A preventionof the shrinkage exists likewise only for a short time period which doesnot suffice to create shrinkage tears. In addition, the starting membercan be applied due to the small engaging faces well from all sides withdry air. By the continuous conveying of the starting papers from thepress to the bearing location the arrangement is extremely economical.The units disposed one behind the other are suitably set off laterallyrelative to each other for the width of the guide pulleys laterally.

It has been shown now, that the acceleration of the drying process findsits limit by application of the dryness with flowing air, thus theblowing on by means of the circulation ventilators from differentdirections, finds a limit, which is given by the maximum quantity of thepossible water removal per timeunit.

The drying of ceramic starting members requires first of all in thecoarse ceramic, where large numbers of pieces of equal format must bedried quickly and rationally, a high proportion of the cost in thedrying process depends, on the one hand, on the working material, on theother hand, on the form of the starting members, for instance,fullstones, grid stones, roof slates, plates and the like. Workingmaterial and form determine at first the dry speed. This can be improvedby free storing of the starting members on continuously moved cablepaths and all around application of flowing air during the run throughof the drying oven. It has been shown, that the limit given by thepossible water removal time limit can be reduced by a rhythmical blowingon of dry air, since then in the path given by the rhythm the waterpresent inside of the starting members has sufficient time to move tothe previously dried surface where it evaporates during the next airpush. Since in this manner a too sharp drying of the surface of thestarting members is avoided, deformations do not occur.

In accordance with the present invention, the problem on which thepresent invention is based is solved such, that as drying devices nozzleblowers are provided which are arranged alternately on both sides and-/or above and below the path of the members at a distance in movingdirection, the distance corresponding at least to the double distance ofsuccessive members.

The nozzle blowers operate the drying air suitably rhythmically and fora short time period with high speed through the spaces between adjacentmembers. Since the nozzles are provided in a double spacing of thesuccessive members, by example in case grit stones a strong force isproduced which sucks up the adjacent nozzle free space air in theopenings between the members and thus drives very much thereby the innerdrying of the members, which is not possible by direct blowing on to theend faces of the members, since here the obtainable penetration depth ofthe dry air remains very low.

It has been shown, that with a device in accordance with the presentinvention, the dry period, by example, takes place to about 10 percentof the time required until now can be reduced. Even fullstones can becompletely oven-dried in a maximum of 6 to 7 hours.

In connection with the continuously operating transporting system, acompletely new concept of a ceramic arrangement results, since now themembers arrive from the press directly in the drying process, which canbe set optionally by corresponding arrangement of the nozzles and their.blowing periods, as well as their pauses tube inserted-after flow time.

An advantage results, since all machines can operate appreciably slowerand more economically and that in addition all manual labors, as latticeinsertion, moving of sliding stages, lattice return transportation, andthe thereby additional works connected therewith are removed. In the endeffect, thus in technical and economical relation the particularlydifficult and cumbersome drying process can be formed particularlyrational.

In the known devices several cablepaths can be provided on top of eachother in order to create some space, furthermore by deviation meansoppositely running movement paths can be created. In case of smalldimensions of the drying chamber then too many guide pulleys arerequired which have an unfavorable effect on the apparatus and theoperation.

An appreciable space saving and improvement of the economy of theapparatus can be made possible in accordance with the present inventionsuch, that the starting members arriving from the press in uniformrhythm in a straight path reach a grouping device, to which are provideda plurality of parallel drying bands running with controllable speedwith nozzles, which are disposed at least above and below their path forthe drying air and that by a rhythmically operating gripping device,which are transformed to the drying band from the grouping device takenfrom groups of starting members. The nozzle for the drying air can bearranged about the drying band also in a different arrangement, inparticular in a spiral shape.

The grouping device comprises suitably likewise cordor belt-paths thestop drive of which is controlled by a photo cell, whereby the variationof the group division is brought about by rotation of the light gateconsisting of a photo cell and a light beam.

From the groups of starting members formed on the grouping device, byexample a band of a few meters length the gripping device takes off thenone group after another and sets the latter onto the drying bandsrunning in the same direction parallel to the grouping band, inparticular such, that a drying band is alternately running closer ormore remote to the grouping band. By this arrangement the runningperiods of the gripping device are equalized for always two paths forpractical purposes.

As a further advantage, the appreciable simplification of thearrangement of the nozzle for the drying air is obtained, since nowmerely above and below of drying air channels must be provided above andbelow the drying bands, which drying air channels are equipped at thedistance desired corresponding with the optimum blowing and pause timeperiod and in the required number of the shifting nozzles. The nozzlesmust then be upon variation of the operational conditions merely set offor increased.

Finally the gripping device can be used additionally for the settingwork for the tunnel oven carriage, so that a further simplification,acceleration and automatization of the operation is made possible.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in thefollowing detailed description, the present invention, which is shown byexample only, will be clearly understood in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic showing of an apparatus with a plurality of cablepaths;

FIG. 2 is a schematic showing of the flowing arrangement of nozzle airand foreign air sucked on between adjacent nozzle-free starting members;

FIG. 3 is a principal showing of nozzles and starting members of thedrying path;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevation of a device in accordance with thepresent invention with an extrusion press, transportation band andfollowing grouping device;

FIG. 5 is top plan view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the light gate of the grouping device;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing of the drying band following thegrouping device. and

FIG. 8 is a schematic showing of drying air nozzles as shown by example.

Referring now to the drawings, the individual starting members, or forms91, come in conventional manner from the press 200 and pile put on aplurality, for example, three parallel cable paths 400, 500 and 600 at300, the number and distance E and E of which depend upon thecharacteristic in length of the members. In any case, each member mustbe supported sufficiently often and must be mounted on the cables such,that it cannot fall down. The parallel cable parts or paths 400, 500 and600 are endless and are formed in such length that the cable hangingbetween the guide pulleys and does not become too large.

In the drawing, supporting positions are indicated at to 140. Betweenadjacent supporting positions, for example 70 and 80, a unit consistingof three parallel cable paths 40, 50 and 60 is arranged. The supportingplaces 90 are disposed in the drying oven 160. The drive of the cablepath takes place over the first unit 150, the guide pulleys 70 of whichsit on a shaft 170, which are driven by a driving motor 180, dis whichdriving motor permits a setting of different cable speeds. The followingunits 150", etc. are driven such that the guide roller 80 of the firstunit 150 is formed with the adjacently disposed guide pulley 70', thesecond unit 150 is formed as a double pulley. The following units 150"etc. are coupled together correspondingly.

The members 91 travel continuously on the cable parts from the press 200through the drying oven up to the pilot location 190. The speed of thecable paths 40, 50 and 60 is adjusted to the press speed, so that asufficiently large but also possibly low distance between the successivemembers is obtained, which reach without waiting time, transfer, etc.,now directly through the drying oven 160 upto a pile station. For theexploitation of the drying oven, a plurality of cable paths of the showntype can be provided adjacent each other or on top of each other, eachof which preferably is fed from a particular press. During the selectionof the number and the place of the supporting positions 80 to 140, notonly a sufficient maintenance of smallness of the hanging of the cableis of importance, which under circumstances can be caught byconventional counter weights or springs, rather it depends also on thecreation of new supporing places for the members, by example,transferring laterally a member from the first cable path unit 150 andto the second cable path unit 15' in supporting position about thedistance X, which corresponds about with the width of a guide roller 70and 80, respectively, whereby suitable selection of the length of thesuccessive cable paths 150, 150' etc. corresponding with the measure ofthe increasing shrinkages in the formation and deformation is avoided onthe changing supporting places of the members changing with each cablepath unit.

The drying oven indicated at 160 in the example is designed as a counterrunning tunnel oven for improvement of economy such, that each of thepassing members 91 is dried under the same conditions as the previousmembers. The drying itself is brought about by ventilators known per se,201, 210 and 220, which vary continuously in the direction of the dryingair and thereby cause a particularly intensive turbulence andhomogenization of the dry air in the entire oven range. This is favoredby suitable setting of the ventilators such, that the main blowingdevice of the ventilators is basically different. By this arrangement, adrying of a best uniform degree and least possible drying time areobtained.

The height of the temperature of the drying air as well as its quantityis dependent upon the type and characteristic of the members. Thus, thetotal energy expenditure of the apparatus will be shifted more towardsthe press from the drying oven in case of hot press members.

While it is possible in the laboratory to dry members completely airfree in a few hours, this was only possible until now with a great timerequirement of several days, without preventing thereby any waste.

The described apparatus makes it now .possible to obtain in the shortestpossible time qualitatively nonobjectionably members and in particular,without additional labor and with simple means. In this case, the tunneloven is particularly suitable since here the drive could be transporteddirectly from the press up to the pile plate. The advantages remain,however, also in chamber ovens, ring ovens and ZZ-ovens, since here alsothe members can be brought in without turning and with avoidance oflattice frames, as well as their disadvantages from the press locationdirectly into the drying oven.

In FIG. 2 a transportation unit 34 is arranged, which consists of threecable paths 31, 32 and 33, on which the members to be dried, in theexample gridstones 35, 36 and 37, are located, which preferably aremoved at a speed of mm per second. The members are mounted at a relativedistance corresponding with the injection time of the press which isuniform on the cable path. In the drying oven on both sides of the cablepath under circumstances also above and below nozzle dryers 317 areprovided, which rhythmically and for a short time period blow a sharpair flow 38 crosswise to the end face of the adjacent members 35 and 36.Blowing time and pass time depend upon the required drying conditions.By the air flow 38 now a strong suction 39 is created, which sucks airfrom the following nozzle free station 310 between the members 36 and 37and causes a strong air flow 311 through the inner opening 312 of thegridstone. The air flow 311 is removed then together with the nozzle airstream 38.

Referring now again to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 3, anarrangement is indicated in which, on the one hand, a plurality ofnozzle dryers 317 disposed at the mentioned distance from each other,and, on the otherhand, at a distance the same number 317 on the otherhand, of the transportation unit 34, are provided. The distance ofsuccessive nozzle dryers must, not correspond thereby at least in doubledistance of successive members. For a better view and for clarification,the members to be dried are only indicated as 35-37.

Referring now again to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 4, on theleft side, an extruder press 1 with extending extruder 2 is shown, fromwhich a means of a cutter 3 the individual forms are separated and arebrought to a transportation band 5. This transportation band 5comprises, by example, three parallel belt drives 5, 5" and 5", whichare moved by a driving shaft 6. When, thus the, forms 4 arriving inuniform rhythm from the press and thus also at uniform distance from thetransportation band 5 come to a grouping device 7, which has the purposeto combine a greater number of members or forms with slight relativedistance to a group, which is easily lifted by means of a gripper 13 andcan be transported. The grouping device 7 consists of a furthertransportation band likewise moved over the roller 6 over a stop drivewith belt paths 8, and 8", if necessary also 8", 8"", relative to theavailable band 5, thus, the reduction of the relative spacing of formmembers forming one group 9 can be set continuously by means of a lightgate consisting of a light source 10 and a photocell 11. This can bebrought about such that the photocell and the light source are providedat opposite ends of a rotatable new frame (not shown) and the desiredinclination angle, that means, the oblique position of the light gate 10consisting of photocell and light source relative to the movingdirection of the transportation band 8 is adjustable along a guide 12.Depending upon the oblique position of the light gate a, drive 11b forthe grouping band 8, controlled by an electric control means 11aconnected to the photocell 1 l, is stopped for a shorter or longer timeperiod and thereby, the relative distance of the members or forms isreduced on this band to the measure desired for the group formation 9.

The provided group 9 of members or forms is measured such, that it canbe gripped without difficulty and damage through a gripper l3 and can belifted and transformed to one of the drying bands 14.

These drying bands 14 are parallel to the grouping band 8 in theirrequired number and parallel towards each other, as well as to itslength and speed are, arranged such that the drying process of themembers or forms is terminated upon reaching end of the band. The dryingis brought about by drying air, which is blown over a greater number ofnozzles 15 onto the forms. These nozzles 15 can be provided according torequirements about the drying band by example screw-like.

Suitably, for the simplification above and below this drying band 14, adrying air channel 18 and 19 each can be provided, which is equipped ata distance and a number of desired optimum blowing and pause timeperiods.

The operating rhythm of the gripper 13 is preferably provided such thatduring arrangement of the drying bands 14 a longer path stroke follows ashorter path stroke, so that the travelling times for two paths can bepractically equalized.

Finally, the gripping device 13 can additionally be used for the settingwork for the tunnel oven carriage 20, as indicated in FIG. 7, at theheight of the left end of the drying bands 14, so that the finisheddried forms are lifted in a straight path from the gripping device andset on the tunnel oven carriage.

While I have disclosed several embodiments of the present invention, itis to be understood that these embodiments are given by example only andnot in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. A conveying-and drying-apparatus for ceramic starting members havingopenings, being transferred after pressing in a drying oven, comprisinga drying oven,

a plurality of units disposed behind each other and slightly laterallyset-off,

each of said units including at least two parallel cable paths endlesslyguided over guide pulleys, said cable paths serving as aconveying-device for said starting members from a press to said dryingoven and to a pile station, said starting members being disposed on saidcable paths in successive uniform spacing and with said openings alignedin the direction of movement of said cable paths,

a plurality of blowers disposed in said drying oven for blowing at leastin a direction cross-wise to the direction of movement of said cablepaths,

said blowers comprising nozzle blowers and disposed alternately at leastat both sides of said paths at a distance in moving direction, and

said distance corresponding with at least the double distance of saidsuccessive starting members.

2. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said nozzle blowerseject cyclically and for short time periods dry air with high speedthrough each pair of adjacent starting members.

3. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cable pathsinclude means for controlling their speed,

said cable paths are disposed behind said press and are equippedwith agrouping device, and following of said cable paths having nozzles fordry air at least above and below said cable paths, and

a cyclically operating gripping device for transferring groups of saidstarting members taken from said grouping device to additional cablepaths. 4. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, which includes dryingbands, and wherein said nozzles for the dry air are disposed screw-likeabout said drying bands. 5. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 3,wherein said grouping device comprises belt paths receiving saidstarting members and having a stop drive, and a photo cell means forcontrolling said stop drive. 6. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 5,which includes a light gate including said photo cell means and a lightray source disposed in the path of said starting members and capable ofbeing rotated relative to the path of said starting members, so thatupon rotation of said light gate a variation of the group division isobtained. 7. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, which includes dryair channels disposed above and below along said drying bands, and saiddrying air channels have a plurality of ejection nozzles at a distanceand at a number corresponding with the optimum blowingandpause-timeperiod. 8. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, whereinsaid gripping device for transferring said groups from one of said cablepaths uniformly to three of said additional cable paths.

, UNITED s rrES PATENT OFFICE, CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,777,L O? Dated December 11, 1973 Inventor) Vanfred Le ise nberg It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet itemli'i] should read as follows:

-- Inventor: Manfred Leisenberg, Alter wall 3, 775 *r-ionstanz/Bodensee, Germany Signed and sealed this 30th dey of April 197i!" (SEAL)Attest:

EDWARD I-LFLETCHER,JH. c. MARSHALL DAi'TN Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 1/ yrs. sovsnuugm' rmu mc ofrlc: nuo-ass-au.

1. A conveying-and drying-apparatus for ceramic starting members havingopenings, being transferred after pressing in a drying oven, comprisinga drying oven, a plurality of units disposed behind each other andslightly laterally set-off, each of said units including at least twoparallel cable paths endlessly guided over guide pulleys, said cablepaths serving as a conveying-device for said starting members from apress to said drying oven and to a pile station, said starting membersbeing disposed on said cable paths in successive uniform spacing andwith said openings aligned in the direction of movement of said cablepaths, a plurality of blowers disposed in said drying oven for blowingat least in a direction cross-wise to the direction of movement of saidcable paths, said blowers comprising nozzle blowers and disposedalternately at least at both sides of said paths at a distance in movingdirection, and said distance corresponding with at least the doubledistance of said successive starting members.
 2. The apparatus, as setforth in claim 1, wherein said nozzle blowers eject cyclically and forshort time periods dry air with high speed through each pair of adjacentstarting members.
 3. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid cable paths include means for controlling their speed, said cablepaths are disposed behind said press and are equipped with a groupingdevice, and following of said cable paths having nozzles for dry air atleast above and below said cable paths, and a cyclically operatinggripping device for transferring groups of said starting members takenfrom said grouping device to additional cable paths.
 4. The apparatus,as set forth in claim 3, which includes drying bands, and wherein saidnozzles for the dry air are disposed screw-like about said drying bands.5. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said grouping devicecomprises belt paths receiving said starting members and having a stopdrive, and a photo cell means for controlling said stop drive.
 6. Theapparatus, as set forth in claim 5, which includes a light gateincluding said photo cell means and a light ray source disposed in thepath of said starting members and capable of being Rotated relative tothe path of said starting members, so that upon rotation of said lightgate a variation of the group division is obtained.
 7. The apparatus, asset forth in claim 3, which includes dry air channels disposed above andbelow along said drying bands, and said drying air channels have aplurality of ejection nozzles at a distance and at a numbercorresponding with the optimum blowing- and pause-time-period.
 8. Theapparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said gripping device fortransferring said groups from one of said cable paths uniformly to threeof said additional cable paths.